ALORA'S POV.
"Hey you!"
The rugged voice of one of the guards snapped me out of my thoughts. I lifted my eyes but quickly averted them when his glare became too intense to bear.
"Why aren't you moving!? Move!"
I dragged my feet along on the stone floors, having no other option. I fought back the heat that rose to my chest, trying my best to keep it caged. I drew in a deep breath and continued to walk despite the pain that was eating me alive.
Minutes turned into hours, and soon enough, we could see the beautiful lights of the city of Valsus ahead of us. Nothing much had changed, the same dread hung thick in the air, and the trees which were barely there anymore remained still, refusing to yield to the wind like they could sense the injustice that was about to happen.
It was already close to dawn when we arrived, and the trials would begin as soon as the sun rose. We only had a few minutes to rest and eat before joining the festivities. Travellers from other cities in the kingdom arrived as well, and within a short time, everyone had gathered in groups, and murmurs turned to cheerful chatters.
I only had a piece of bread that I had stuffed into my pocket before the start of the journey, so I retreated to a tight corner to eat and get some rest.
"Why is this happening now?" I touched my chest, and then my forehead. I was still burning, like plastic under the sun. I had done a decent job keeping my powers hidden all these years, and suddenly they were flaring up? It couldn't be a coincidence.
Something was wrong with this year's trials, I should be somewhere else, not here.
I ate the bread, and then rested my head on the wall, taking in the musky scent of the dark alley. I had never been afraid of the dark, I loved it if anything.
The sound of wood hitting the large ceremonial drums caused me to jerk. The drums sounded in unison, their unearthly music sending chills down my spine. They signified the beginning of the festivities. Soon after, melodious voices rang out, chanting the queen's praises, and cheers filled the air.
It was time to join the others, so I got up, slapped the dirt off my dress and made to leave but my heart skipped when someone bumped into me from behind.
"I'm sorry!" She was panting and sweating, clutching her coat tightly to her chest. I got a short glimpse of her angelic face before she covered up.
"It's okay. Are you okay?" I tried to reach for her, seeing how tense she was, but she pulled away like my hand had thorns sticking out of them.
"Uh.. I'm sorry for bumping into you." She took off quickly, leaving me standing there, transfixed.
What was wrong with her? Why did she look so scared?
I looked back at the direction where she came from just to make sure that no one was coming, but it was dead silent. I walked towards the festivities, but my heart was restless, and bumping into that girl just made things worse.
"The binding trials are here! Make merry and honor the queen who gave us freedom!" The neverending chants filled the air, people bumped into me as the crowd grew. I walked behind the drummers as we headed to the square to meet the queen.
The procession would begin from there and we would have to watch the executions later. I was not looking forward to it, but we were forced to watch. A painful reminder that I would never live freely again.
The procession lasted for hours, and by the time we circled back to the square, it was already high noon and the sun was burning badly. It didn't make things easier for me.
It was time for the queen's speech, the arena was swarming with unnatural looking guards who looked like they could squeeze life out of anyone with just their eyes. No one dared to speak or move while the queen spoke.
"Veloria! I welcome you all to the annual binding trials!" She began.
Queen Lucinda, the cold, wicked queen who ruled with an iron fist. She had a pretty face, she was easily the fairest of them all, a striking contrast to her heart… if she had one.
"It is that time again to bind the evil that once ruled this kingdom and held it captive. All who practice magic must be put to death and the kingdom must be cleansed from their evil."
Chills ran down my spine, and my body stilled. That speech, it wasn't new, and yet today, it awakened a fear that I didn't know was buried within me.
The terrible feeling that something was going to go wrong gnawed at my chest, stealing the breath out of my lungs.
"Bring out the captives!" She announced loudly, a smug grin on her face, but then, a shriek in the crowd stole everybody's attention.
"Let go of me! Let go!"
The guards dragged someone out of the crowd and threw her at the feet of the queen like a used piece of cloth. Her long hair covered her face, but I could hear her crying.
"Your majesty, we caught her trying to escape, and when we tried to stop her, she used magic on us."
The crowd erupted in wild whispers, and I clutched the hem of my dress tighter than ever, my jaw hanging open.
Queen Lucinda smiled.
"Your majesty, please spare me. Spare my life! Please my queen!" The girl shrieked, and I swallowed. Why did she sound familiar?
"A magic user roaming free in my kingdom? Well, we better set an example for the rest of them." She snickered.
With a wave of her hand, she ordered the guards and they pulled the girl to her feet. The punishment stone was rolled in, and the air became cold.
"No!" The girl cried, her voice breaking, her desperation making my chest burn.
In her struggle with the guards, her hair flung back, revealing the face of the same girl that I had bumped into me in the alley!
My eyes almost shot out of their sockets, and my heart seemed to stop.
"Now," the queen continued, "behead her!"
No!